Hunting Colorado
elk hunting colorado or idaho?
i ve wanted to go elk hunting but i cant really afford a guided hunt so what would be the best state for a do it yourself elk hunt on pubic land. also i would be hunting with a rifle. so could i get and over the counter the counter tag in either state for a gun hunt. would the over the counter tags just be for cows or for bulls also. what would the price range be for them. and finnally when are the season that you could hunt. thanks
$600 gets you license and elk tag in Idaho,over the counter,depending on quotas,normally nothing to worry about. Biggest problem in hunting where you are a non-resident is finding the areas to hunt that might actually have elk. Vast majority of elk hunters go home empty handed for any given year,unless they know the areas,have done some scouting and have access with 4x4s,horses or hiking in.
Person “A” will tell you the area west of Priest Lake is looking good;”B” might say they haven’t seen elk in that area in 3 years. There are herds in the North Fork of the Couer d’Alene river,around St.Maries,Grangeville,Lapwai,into McCall.Salmon,Soda Springs,in the desert around Blackfoot—where do you go if you don’t know where to go? I grew up in North Idaho,and have hunted in many areas of the state,so in the millions of acres available there are just too many variable to deal with unless you have weeks to hunt or scout before the hunt. Idaho F&G do try to help with their plan a hunt interface and other information you can glean from them. There is just no substitute for putting boots on the ground and hiking the areas of interest. Use the link below for information.
One option would be to get a reduced fee tag for bear and/or cougar in the Lolo/Selway/Middle fork section ($32 each, and you can get second tags same cost);learn the area and then come back next season with elk in mind too.
Arrowhead Hunting Colorado – Rose springs and other point